The Las Vegas Raiders got a reality check Sunday in the form of a 31-17 beating by their rival the Kansas City Chiefs. The game highlighted how far the Raiders must go before competing at a playoff and championship level.
Yes, the Raiders have some impressive players on both sides of the ball. But they’re more than just a few additions away from being a team capable of consistently beating the league’s best teams.
Under Andy Reid’s leadership, the Chiefs showcased their dominance by outperforming the Raiders in all aspects of the game. The lack of depth on offense and defense for the Raiders was glaring. It’s one thing to suffer a loss, but it’s another to be outmatched on almost every front.
Las Vegas Raiders struggle against Chiefs in all three phases
The Raiders’ struggles existed on offense, defense and even in special teams. The defense, which had performed admirably the past several weeks, struggled to contain Kansas City’s onslaught, allowing over 400 yards on offense. Offensively, the Raiders also faced challenges again, unable to consistently move the ball and score points. The Raiders have failed to score 20 points in all but two games this season.
Despite the encouraging performance of rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who had a good day with 250 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with running back Josh Jacobs’ strong day with 110 yards on 20 carries and a 63-yard touchdown, it seemed that the Raiders’ overall offensive game plan fell apart after just two quarters.
While O’Connell showed his potential and ability to face adversity, it also highlighted shortcomings with the Raiders’ game plan. Interim offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree failed to establish a practical framework that fully utilized his young quarterback abilities for the second consecutive week.
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Raiders offense continues to be uneven at best
The offense experienced some ups and downs, lacking coordination, adaptability, and an aggressive approach, evident in their victories against the New York teams. Although they started the game with energy and an aggressive mindset, the Raiders’ offense lost momentum and struggled to respond to adjustments made by the Chiefs.
“Yeah we definitely didn’t perform enough in the half ” commented O’Connell after the game. “We attempted to maintain our running game which had some success initially but ended up having a three and outs. It’s challenging to do that against this team without putting together drives. We kept our defense on the field for long.”
When asked about the team’s lack of consistency and aggressiveness on offense in the second half of games this season, Pierce acknowledged that they intended to be aggressive against Kansas City.
“Yes that was our plan. We had opportunities there ” Pierce explained. “Upon reviewing the tape as I’m sure you saw too there were plays to be made. Receivers were open. We need to make those connections to how we performed in the running game during the first quarter.”
Despite Pierce’s statement about being aggressive, the Raiders offensive performance waned after the middle of the second quarter. While Jacobs had some runs and O’Connell completed a few passes downfield, overall, it was inconsistent. Not only did the Raiders fail to execute, but O’Connell also faced challenging circumstances with how the offensive game plan unfolded. This recurring pattern has persisted over the past couple of weeks, which have resulted in losses.
Antonio Pierce is learning on the job and struggling, too
The game also highlighted that Pierce, like any inexperienced head coach, is going through a learning process and will struggle at times. Despite displaying leadership skills and the ability to stabilize the locker room after the damage caused by fired coach Josh McDaniels, it was evident that both Pierce and Hardegree lacked the experience and savvy of a coach like Reid. While Pierce has successfully instilled a culture in Las Vegas, it’s essential to recognize limitations to how far this takes you. Managing games against teams like the Chiefs proved to be an area where Pierce and his staff fell short in the loss.
Pierce has had to deal with losing two games in a row, Roderic Teamer’s DUI late Saturday night, and an on-the-field flare-up with veteran cornerback Marcus Peters, who is expected to be released as early as Monday. While he’s likable and Raider Nation has warmed to him quickly, coaching the NFL is no fairy tale.
Some of Pierce’s decisions on the field, such as opting for a field goal (kicker Daniel Carlson missed it) early in the game when the Raiders were up 7-0 and deep in Chiefs territory, showed he is still finding his footing as an NFL coach. This isn’t surprising. But it is noticeable. The Raiders often struggle with having a killer instinct at moments, often reverting to the approach of McDaniels.
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Las Vegas Raiders must focus on the future now
As we head into the Raiders bye week, Pierce stands at 2-2 as head coach. With five games remaining this season and their current record at 5-7, it becomes crucial to salvage what is left of the schedule and lay a foundation for future success.
It’s about time the Raiders start giving some playing time to young players like defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera, wide receiver Tre Tucker, and defensive end Byron Young. Interim general manager Champ Kelly needs to assess the roster’s depth and identify the team’s strengths and weaknesses. While the season isn’t completely lost, the Raiders should adopt a mindset that is focused on developing their players for the remainder of 2023 and beyond.
This isn’t about giving up on the season. It’s about looking towards the future. This means they should also evaluate the coaching staff and the roster’s depth. Questions include whether Pierce is the person for the head coaching position permanently. Should they consider other options? These decisions will impact the Raiders’ future and these final six weeks allow them to make those assessments.
As they move forward the remainder of the season, it’s important for fans of Raider Nation to manage their expectations. This team is still trying to establish its identity. They’re working towards building a foundation that can withstand all challenges an NFL season presents a team competing for a championship. The Raiders certainly have potential but potential alone doesn’t guarantee wins or help them surpass Kansas City as the team to beat in the AFC West.
The loss against the Chiefs means more than just losing another game. It serves as an opportunity for reflection and a blueprint for how much work must be done. It reminds the Raiders of what the future can look like.
For the Las Vegas Raiders, there’s no better time to focus on the future than right now.